The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-01-08

| shall be glad to stay up little whhe
longer, and took my profered arm.
How many things we talked about as we
sat in the dark on the gently undulating
deck, nothing disturbing us, nc sound but
the great breathing of the engines and the
rushing of the waters as they flew by
The next morning the Australia was
tossing about on the Bay of Biscay When
I came up about eight o'clock, the decks
were all wet and shiny, and now and again
the great white-capped waves came, splash
ing over them.
"Hallo" 1 calculated, as I staggered,
and, notwithstanding the sea legs acquired
in many yachting cruise, nearly fell
against the skylight. awe shant see many
ofthe ladies on deck to-day" ] was think
ing of one lady in particular, and hardly
had ] made the reflection than l saw her
clinging on to the taff-raii. HeT-tan, lis
some figure swayed with the movement of
the vessel, her hair blew in soft rings about
her glowing cheeks, her great dark eyes
sparkled with enjoyment.
as not this splendid ?" she cried.
aIndeed, It is" answered, looking at
her intently, I did not mean quite the
same thing she did, but that did not mat
ter
"You are born sailor"
81 have lived by the sea all the happiest
time of my life, 7 am a sailors child"
she said, simply.
After breakfast, 1 had the pleasure of
trying to steer Mrs. Robson for deck walk;
no other ladies appeared, only few men,
in pilot coats, with their collars turned up,
, and shiny hats, were trying to strut back
wards and forwards, every now and then
cannoning against each other, and flying off
at tangents with muttered apologies. We
soon gave up any attempt at loeomotlop,
and, wrapping ourselves in rugs and tar
paulins, passed delightful morning, sitting
in our deck chairs.
The better knew Mrs. Robson the more
charming found her; so fresh and clever,
without shadow of alleotation, and so un-
conscious of her own attractions. | had
already set down Bills account of her as
libelous "Sent home in Disgrace 1t
was simply impossible to connect such an
idea with Mrs Robson, and 1 wondered
how Bill could have had the stupidity to
repeat such scandal. If ever proud un-
consciousness of evil was imprinted on a
woman's words and actions, they were
surely here. Perhaps the very innocence
of her mind led her to defy public opinion
more than was wise in this gossip-loving
world, and, no doubt, her husband was ut
terly uncongenial to her. She never even
distantly alluded to him or to her life in
India, and was too discreet to start an
unpleasant topic; 1 preferred to draw her
out about her girlhood's home by the sea,
of which she spoke with passionate fond
ness.
4. lunch-time, / escorted her to the door
of h cabin, to arrange the splendid masses
of her disordered hair, As l hsld the cur
I tain aside for her to pass in, caught a
glimpse of pale, peevish, little face on a
pillow, and heard a plaintive voice say:
"Ghl How can you walk about and be
well this awful weather? Oh, dear; DEAR
1 wish / were dead"
Poor little Miss LAMBERT She looked
hardly fit to battle with the world; its hard
ships seemed already too many for her.
In the afternoon the weather was worse
Mrs. Robson and | sat in the saloon and
pretended to read. The few other passen-
gers who were not confined to their berths
were scattered up and down the long table,
some playing cards, some chatting, some
DOING. No one took any notice of us.
We discussed our books, and taking Mrs.
Robson's into my hand, I saw written on
the title page:
"Helen, from her father"
She saw me looking at it, and, taking the
book gently from me, murmured:
SHY dear father; it was his last present
to me, before starting for the voyage from
which he never came back
A tear started to her eye, and, getting
up, she went into her cabin. remained
musing. Helen! 1 was glad to know her
Christian name; that of Mrs. Robson some
how displeased me. | would not call her
by it even in thought. Old Robson must
be brute, I felt sure. She never men
toned his name.
Two days later we sat on deck as usual
The ship was blowing quietly through the
deep, blue sea; the little ripples Of which
had not the power to make her huge bulk
waver The coast of Portugal rose boldly
on our left; we could family distinguish
the villas and orange groves of Cintra.
There had been little pause Helen Gas
I now began to call her to myself had
taken up her book and read few lines,
then, resting her fresh young cheek on her
slender hand, she fixed her great starlike
eyes on the distant land.
Presently she said !